Thibodaux’s Station One celebrates 150th anniversary

Wednesday

THIBODAUX -- When Fire Station One began extinguishing its first blazes 150 years ago, it had the barest essentials: a hose, buckets and all the volunteer man power the community could muster.

That was before the advent of protective jackets, powerful engines and fire alarms, inventions that wouldnít aid firemen for decades to come.

Having existed for more than a century, Station One predates the Thibodaux Fire Department by several decades. It is the station that helped begin todayís city wide department that now includes eight companies and nearly 500 members.

As the community prepares to enjoy the annual Thibodaux Firemenís Fair, an event that runs Thursday through Sunday and serves as the primary fundraiser for the fire department, retired volunteers reflect on the early days of fire protection.

When the station began, it relied on a 150-foot hose and a dozen leather buckets to extinguish fires, according to Century of Service, a history of the department written by Lee Martin.

Francis Naquin, 90, remembers fighting fires during the 1930s with few tools and little protection. Risking his life at 18, he said most fires ignited in the winter when residents used stoves to heat their homes.

"The water would hit you and turn to ice," said Naquin, who joined the service in 1936. There were no boots or shields, he added, just a truck and a hose.

In the early days, volunteers followed strict rules. Fines -- ranging from 25 cents to $2 -- could be charged to volunteers who repeatedly failed to show at fires, according to Century of Service.

Naquin and other retired station members say modern stations require more in-depth safety training than was required in past years. Current members say they must complete 40 hours of training a year to remain in good standing with their company.

Another former member, L.J. Oncale, 84, said he joined in his 20s. In the 1950s, he said, companies helped residents carry furniture out of burning homes, salvaging all they could as the fire raged.

Firemen now have protective coverings that can be spread over furniture or other belongings to keep them safe from flames, members say.

Regular meetings held by the company were quiet and somber while business was being done, Oncale said, but afterward the entire crew would play cards and drink alcohol late into the evening.

"They did what they needed to do," he said. "But back then it was a big social."

Volunteers would work together on weekends, laying their own bricks and mortar to expand the building.

The men say they joined the company for the same reason others did, because they were following the example set by family members.

"Thatís what it boils down to," Oncale said. "Families and families and families."

Many joined because the town had few opportunities for younger people, said Dickie Naquin, also a former member. It became a source of recreation and friendship.

"Back then, there wasnít much," Naquin said. "But in their time, that was their escape. Their fun night."

Trey Shields, 20, is a second lieutenant at the company and says the family spirit still exists. The equipment is better today, he said, thanks mostly to money collected at the annual Firemanís Fair.

"The city is pretty fortunate to have the fair," he said. "Our equipment is up on the lines with some larger companies."

Equipment and methods may advance, Oncale said, but others never will.

"A fire is still a fire," he said. "It never changes."

Staff Writer Matthew Pleasant can be reached at 857-2202 or matthew.pleasant@houmatoday.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.